Public education and age

[Zero]

Being as the greatest learning ability that the human brain ever has occurs between birth and age 5, would it be wise to begin public schooling sooner, and teach children basic math and english at earlier ages? Would this shift cause problems with developemental needs of children? If public education were started several years earlier, and teachers actually attempted to teach semi-relevant stuff at such early ages, what do you think the effects would be?

Personally, I think it'd be a good idea, because having a more concrete understanding of the basics would be helpfull throughout someone's entire life, and babies and toddlers actually have a quite amazing talent for learning. But of course, honestly, I know jack shit about children, and I'm curious to see anyone else's perspective.

[Surlethe]

The problem with teaching basic math earlier is past addition, math requires increasingly abstract sophistication to grasp: it's only concrete relative to more advanced math. I'm not talking about rote learning; you could teach calculus at an early age by rote learning. I'm talking about thoroughly comprehending the material, which is quite difficult for children who haven't yet developed the abstract capacity required for understanding more math.

[Zero]

So if cognitive developement is linked primarily to biology (meaning that it will be related to age), then teaching children at earlier ages won't help? What is the basic consensus about cognitive developement, that it's linked primarily to the brain's developement, or that we gain higher cognitive abilities through learning? Basically, is there a known relation between brain developement and cognitive developement?

[wilfulton]

Public education is, to put it mildly, just like porn. Most of it just shit. Not to brag, but for a shining, if brief moment, I was given the opportunity to do 6th grade math while I was in the 2nd grade. Always being shy, and not wont to be different from everyone else, I of course rebelled at the idea, but did it for awhile no less, and it wasn't that hard. I suppose I could have stayed that course, had I the internal fortitude at that early age.

A cousin of mine went to that same school, and got bitched out in the 4th grade for reading during coloring class. Yes folks, 4th graders with coloring books. And the teacher of course explained it to my aunt as "We have students up here, and students down here, and we have to take those up here and bring them down here." I'm glad the fat bitch had moved on by the time I was in 4th grade.

From birth to 5 years is probably when the brain is best able to learn all right, but that doesn't mean throwing them in schools with dipshit teachers who care more for fucking bureaucracy than the children themselves, regardless of what they say, or tell themselves in front of the mirror, they have to appease the bureau of bureaucracy, department of eduational practices, etc. etc. I've known some good teachers and I've known some bad ones, and many of those that I have talked to sometimes feel their hands are tied in education. Young children need to learn how to be young children, not part of a bureaucratic process, which let's face it, public school is.

They should be learning to play and have fun, not be forced to sit in classrooms recieving mind draining rays from that bitch teacher. They should be able to enjoy early childhood, because they're going to hate adolescence, and are going to hate adulthood even more when they have responsibilities.

[Elheru Aran]

Best thing to teach them at that time, if anything, is languages. Eliminate the need for teaching it later. Though I'll grant you, I certainly don't see the merits of teaching foreign languages as required classes in the first place... electives, most certainly, but required? O.o

[Surlethe]

Best thing to teach them at that time, if anything, is languages. Eliminate the need for teaching it later. Though I'll grant you, I certainly don't see the merits of teaching foreign languages as required classes in the first place... electives, most certainly, but required? O.o

IIRC, there was a study which showed multilingual individuals are smarter than monolingual people. Even more, the way you think is grounded in your language, so people who know multiple languages will be able to think in more ways than people who don't.

[Cairber]

Well...theres no logical way to get kids into a school before 3ish without having to have 1 teacher per kid or a ratio somewhat like that. Besides the emotional and physical bonding with their family that they would be missing, you also have the problem of diapers, eating MANY more times per day, some cant walk yet, some aren't talking yet...the list goes on. I think once they hit 4 they all start to be on the same track, and it isn't so dangerous to have a larger ratio between teacher and child. Before 4, it would be pretty tough to have public education unless you can amass an army of teachers trained to teach toddlers of all different skill levels.

That being said, I think a lot would be lost by putting children in school so early. By Anna staying with until 4ish, she is learning spanish and signing in our house plus socializing with other children. In addition, she is forming a close bond with my husband and I.

Maybe something like a public daycare that focuses on more learning. Usually you have to pay double for places like that (at least around here).

[wolveraptor]

IIRC, multilingual individuals show the most significant improvement in capabilities when they were so fluent, they could think in another language.

So I laugh at you white american bitches, for not having parents who moved here from a different country. Hah!

But seriously, my father probably benefited from that even more than I did. I have virtually forgotten my "native" tongue, whereas he, being Indian, knows multiple languages.

Back on topic: the practicality of teaching vivacious, young three-year-olds is low. Parents need to be doing most of the work, but then you have uneducated morons who don't have the time anyways doing it. That's probably what fuels the creationist movement.